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. 2025 Jun 3;17(11):1916.
doi: 10.3390/nu17111916.

The Acute and Long-Term Benefits of the Oligoantigenic Diet for Children and Adolescents on the Three Symptom Subdomains of ADHD: Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity

Karolin Eder  1 , Katja Schneider-Momm  1 , Tanja Karola Puce  1 , Maja Tobergte  1 , Hans-Willi Clement  1 , Reinhold Rauh  1 , Eberhard Schulz  1 , Monica Biscaldi  1 , Christina Clement  1 , Christian Fleischhaker  1
Affiliations

The Acute and Long-Term Benefits of the Oligoantigenic Diet for Children and Adolescents on the Three Symptom Subdomains of ADHD: Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity

Karolin Eder et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: Based on the multitude of findings, nutrition is becoming increasingly important in the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. One promising approach is the so-called oligoantigenic diet (OD). This intervention involves avoiding certain foods that often trigger intolerances and allergies. Previous studies have shown that around 60% of patients experienced a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms after completing such a diet. The aim of the present study was to further confirm the efficacy of the OD within an analysis focusing on the symptom of impulsivity. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the Parent Rating of the Diagnostic System of Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents (DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD) questionnaire was used to measure the severity of ADHD symptoms. Of 34 children and adolescents (between 7 and 18 years of age) screened and included in this study, 31 participants completed the 4-week OD diet. Results: The corresponding post-diet analysis showed significant short-term improvements for the DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD total score, compared to the start of the diet. This pattern of results also applied to the respective subscales of the DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD questionnaire. A follow-up evaluation conducted 3.5 years after the intervention with 21 participants suggested that the improvements in ADHD symptoms were maintained over time. Specifically, 66.7% of the participants continued to meet the responder criterion, with particularly notable and lasting reductions in impulsivity. Discussion: These results suggest that the beneficial effects of the oligoantigenic diet followed by identifying and avoiding individual intolerant foods may persist long term, and participants' dietary habits may have also evolved over the years. Conclusion: The oligoantigenic diet may have long-term therapeutic potential for reducing ADHD symptoms, especially impulsivity, in children and adolescents.

Keywords: ADHD; children; diet; food intolerance; nutrition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Citation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD total scores for all participants (n = 21) across three time points: pre-diet, post-diet, and follow-up. Each line represents one participant. A reduction in scores indicates a decrease in symptom severity.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Individual DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD subscale scores (n = 21) across the three time points: pre-diet, post-diet, and follow-up. Each line represents one participant.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Time course of DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD total scores for responders and non-responders (n = 21) according to ARS-rating depending on medication use. Scores are shown at pre-diet, post-diet, and follow-up. Missing medication data at follow-up for participants 17, 18, 21, and 31. Lower scores indicate fewer ADHD symptoms.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Time course of DISYPS-II FBB-ADHD impulsivity scores for responders and non-responders (n = 21) according to ARS-rating depending on medication use. The short bars represent an impulsivity score of 0. No information on medication was available at the FU for participants 17, 18, 21, and 31.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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